Progress Reports

Students received school wide progress reports today. Grades for this progress report were entered Tuesday, September 23. Students may have turned in work since then which has yet to be graded, so this is not your child’s final average. Today during Advocacy, many students had the opportunity to check in with teachers from whom they received low grades and to find out how they could improve their average.

Please understand, because of the week we were out of school, we have fewer grades than normal at this time so each assignment weighs more heavily. As we take more grades, students’ averages will be adjusted, however, it is imperative that students turn in every assignment. Students have until Monday, September 29 to turn in any work that was due just prior to the hurricane days.

Please feel free to contact the teacher of any classes in which your child is struggling. Be assured that we are working hard with every student because their success is our priority.

MATH PRE-AP/GT September 25th, 2008

NOTE TO PARENTS:

Today your child has received a school-wide Progress Report.  This progress report will show the average your child had by last Monday, September 22nd.  IF YOUR CHILD HAS TURNED IN any missing or late work AFTER Monday his/her up-dated average will be different BUT it will NOT be reflected in the school-wide progress report. 

Frequently asked questions:

Q:  Can my child re-do the missed work?

A:  Yes, and in fact it is expected to do so.  Missed work not completed will be a “0″. 

Q:  Can my child improve his/her average?

A:  YES, there is always hope! 

Q:  HOW can my child improve his/her average?

A:  It depends on….

If the low average is because of missed work just complete it and turn it in.  The work will be graded and points will be deducted because of late work. 

If the low average is because poor performance on an assignment, just re-do the assignment, SHOW YOUR CALCULATIONS for your work, turn it in and extra points will be added to the previous grade.  Remember, when re-doing an assignment your work must reflect your effort and understanding.

Q:  How often can I receive a progress report?

A:  In Math class I can send a progress at any time, BUT you the parents or the students have to request it.  I usually send a progress report BEFORE the three weeks period for school-wide progress report or report card day.

Q:  Can I access the textbook on-line?

A:  YES.  GOOD NEWS:  Now you can have access to the textbook on-line.  Try this:

1) type in www.mhln.com

2) find where it says “registered member” and type in MAC1TX07

3) where it says “Password”, type in LONESTAR

4) click “log on” and your done.

This information has been discussed in class; your child must know how to access not only the textbook, but other resources like “Personal Tutor”.  To access the personal tutor visit:  tx.msmath1.com  On the left side of your monitor keep scrolling down until you see “Personal Tutor”.  Choose the chapter and lesson you would like to tutor and you are done!  I will review  this process again with the students next Monday.  I did it today with 2nd, 4th and 6th period.  They were very exicited about all their possibilities. 

REMINDER: 

BE AWARE THAT EVERY DAY WITH EVERY ASSIGNMENT YOUR AVERAGE IS CONSTANTLY CHANGING.  If you have received a good grade CONGRATULATIONS!  Now you have to continue working hard to keep your grades up  or improve them even much more.

Please, if you need any help, don’t hesitate to contact me!

Have a great weekend. 

Summer Reading- Last Call

Due to circumstances presented by Hurricane Ike, the final deadline for students to turn in their five Summer Reading Journals has been extended to Monday, September 29. Students are not receiving any points off of their journals at this time. However, students who did not have their journals turned in as of this past Tuesday did receive a zero for that grade on their progress report. I have sent a second letter home with student who have not yet turned in their journals and it is to be signed and returned.

This is a major grade for the first six weeks and I want all students to experience success when they receive their report card in a few weeks time. Please help me by working with your child to get these journals completed if they have not done so already. If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail me at aparker1@houstonisd.org.

Math Pre-AP September 24, 2008

Note to parents and students:

A detailed Math progress report has been sent home yesterday and today.  Please ask your child to show it to you and bring it back signed.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  The final grade that is shown in that progress report is the grade your child will be receiving on the school-wide progress report that will be home soon.  It is important to clarify that there is still time to turn in ANY MISSING ASSIGNMENT.  Please, be aware that I will be receiving late/missing work up to next Wednesday, October 1st. 

If the student has already completed and turned in the assignment, his/her average will improve.  If you want to receive a detailed progress report, please remind your child to ask for a “fresh copy” at any time or send me an e-mail at:  nhernand@houstonisd.org

All my students have the opportunity to  complete make-up work at school either:  before/after shcool, during lunch in the Stables or in my classroom, during Advocacy or during my 3rd period.

Thank you for your continuous support. 

6C Due Date Changes

Hurricane Ike is forcing us to change several due dates. Please read the previous posts from Ms. Hernandez and Ms. Geraci. Students were made aware of all the following changes during our 6C cluster meeting Thursday:

Reading- All Summer Reading Journals must be turned in by Monday*, September 15. If journals are not turned in by this day students will receive a 25% penalty on this assignment. Journals must be turned in by 8:30 or they will not be included on the student’s progress report grade.

World Cultures- History Fair Topic Selection worksheets must be turned in Monday or Tuesday when the student has class next. Students also need to bring an orange for an in class activity.

English-Writer’s Notebooks are due no later than 8:45 a.m. Monday*. Students are to turn in their notebook to designated crates outside Ms. Geraci’s classroom.

Math- If students have not turned in the “Sieve of Eratosthenes” assignment, it must be turned in Monday*. This assignment is already past due and students will only receive partial credit.

*Reading, English, and Math assignments are due Monday, assuming that there are no further school cancellations. Should HISD find it necessary to make further cancellations, these assignments are due THE DAY STUDENTS RETURN TO SCHOOL. Please understand that this is an extension from the original deadline for these assignments.

We hope that your family is able to stay safe and comfortable during this bout of inclement weather. We look forward to seeing everyone back soon!

MATH PRE-AP/GT, September 11, 2008

NOTES TO PARENTS AND STUDENTS:

Homework for Monday/Tuesday: 

1.  Complete your “FACTOR GUY“.  Every student has received a specific number and must present the “Factor Guy” with all the factors that make up that number. 

2.  From your textbook:  Pages 30-31 problems #2-36 (even problem numbers only)  Pages 34-35 problems #2-30 (even problem numbers only)

REMINDER:

  Keep studying and memorizing all prime factors between 2-100.

IF YOU DID NOT TURN IN OR COMPLETED THE SIEVE OF ERATOSTHENES, PLEASE TURN IT IN NEXT MONDAY–EITHER IF YOU HAVE THE CLASS ON BLUE OR GREEN DAY.  Your assignment is already late and it will receive partial credit only. 

REMEMBER:  TUTORIALS ARE ON MONDAYS AFTER SCHOOL FROM 3:55 TO 4:55 p.m.

Have a safe and great weekend!

Writer’s Notebook

Dear Parents and Students,

By now all students should have a composition book that they are using as their writer’s notebook.  Please remember that these may fill up and may need to be replaced at least once this year, if not more often.  I thought I would post a few rules and thoughts about notebooks here.

First, never tear pages out of your notebook.  

Only use your notebook for notebook work.  There is a log in the front of my room that lists everything that should be in your notebook. 

Bring your notebook to class everyday.  If you forget, do your work on plain notebook paper and paste, staple, or tape your work in later.

 Notebooks are graded every Friday.  Please have it ready to turn in when you walk in the room.  Do not write anything you don’t want to share with me in your notebook.

Do not draft in your notebook.  Do your draft on lined paper and keep it in your English folder.

Mark extra entries by titling them “Extra Entry.”  These will become important to you later in the year.

I will probably add to this list as the year progresses, so please stay tuned for updates.

Summer Reading Journals

CONGRATULATIONS to all the 6C students who have turned in their Summer Reading Journals! Great Job!

If you have not turned in your journals you received a note last week informing you that they were still outstanding. Students have until 4:00 p.m. this Friday, September 12 to turn in Summer Reading Journals for full credit. Please remember:

• Your Summer Reading Journals must be completed over one of the choice books.
• You must complete 5 journals.
• If you have any questions over how to complete the journals, please see me and read the directions and sample.

Math PreAP/GT September 5, 2008

Note to Parents and Students:

Things to remember:  Always come prepared to class–textbook, math tablet, pencil, homework and planner. 

Study vocabulary words from Chapter 1.  There will be a Pop-Up quiz for vocabulary words next week. 

Homework:  Periods 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7:  List all the factors of numbers from 2-100. 

Periods 4 and 6keep working on the arrays for the numbers assigned to you in class, if you have not turn it yet. 

TUTORIALS                         TUTORIALS                        TUTORIALS

Every Monday we will have Math TUTORIALS in room C-105 from 3:55 to 4:55 p.m.  Students do NOT need a special permit, simply show up for tutorials at that time.  PARENTS: make sure your child has a safe-ride back home after tutorials.  The school will NOT provide transportation for students staying late due to tutorials.

GOOD NEWS:  Now you can have access to the textbook on-line.  Try this:

1) type in www.mhln.com

2) find where it says “registered member” and type in MAC1TX07

3) where it says “Password”, type in LONESTAR

4) click “log on” and your done

If you have any problems, please ask me in class.  Thanks to A. H. 

Have a great weekend.